Cigna VHIS Series
The first insurance company to offer three VHIS Certified Plans, including the only VHIS Flexi Plan in town with 4 deductible options.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
15% off your first-year premium
FAMILY DISCOUNTS
Extra 10% off if you add your spouse or kids
The Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) is a government-endorsed scheme that aims to give the Hong Kong public better access to timely, high quality private medical treatment. Private health insurance plans that meet the Government’s criteria are officially certified as VHIS plans.
WORLDWIDE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR YOUR PROTECTION
Guaranteed renewal up to age of 100, with no lifetime benefit limit
Confidence that you will have protection into your later years
Non-surgical cancer treatment cover
Covers chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy for cancer treatment
Unknown pre-existing condition cover
Partial cover in first 3 years
Full cover from 4th year onwards
Full cover from 4th year onwards
Surgery and advanced diagnostic imaging cover on out-patient basis
CT scan, MRI scan, PET scan, PET-CT combined and PET-MRI combined
| Cigna VHIS Series Registration Number of VHIS Provider: 00031 Registration Effective Date: 28 February, 2019 |
STANDARD PLAN
S00031-01-000-01
|
FLEXI PLAN
(SMM) F00012-01-000-01
|
FLEXI PLAN
(SUPERIOR) F00016-(01 to 04)-000-01
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitalization benefits
i
Benefits include:
| Standard VHIS cover | Standard VHIS cover | Full compensation |
| Surgical benefits
i
Benefits include:
| Standard VHIS cover | Standard VHIS cover | Full compensation |
| Diagnostic Imaging
i
This means:
Prescribed Diagnostic Imaging tests (CT scan, MRI scan, PET scan, PET-CT combined and PET-MRI combined); Standard VHIS cover is subject to 30% co-insurance
| Standard VHIS cover | Standard VHIS cover | Full compensation |
| Cancer Treatment
i
This means:
Prescribed Non-surgical Cancer Treatments which covers chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy for cancer treatment
| Standard VHIS cover | Standard VHIS cover | Full compensation |
| Other VHIS benefits
i
Benefits include:
| Standard VHIS cover | Standard VHIS cover | Standard VHIS cover |
Enhanced benefit: Outpatient Kidney Dialysis
i
This covers the ongoing cost of dialysis treatment for kidney failure, carried out in a clinic or on a day patient basis at a hospital
| Full compensation |
||
Enhanced benefit: SMM
i
Supplementary Major Medical
This pays you any remaining eligible expenses after VHIS Standard Plan benefits are exhausted, subject to 20% co-insurance | Not Applicable (Full compensation available to all core benefits) |
||
| Annual Benefit Limit | $420,000 | $540,000 | $5,000,000 |
| Lifetime Benefit Limit | $20,000,000 | ||
| Annual Deductible
i
We will start paying for the covered medical expenses once the deductible amount has been reached. The deductible will be covered either by you or your other insurance plan(s).
| $0 | $15,000 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
||
| Entry age | 15 days to 80 years | 15 days to 80 years | 15 days to 80 years |
| Protection period | 1 year and guaranteed renewable to age 100 | 1 year and guaranteed renewable to age 100 | 1 year and guaranteed renewable to age 100 |
| Premium payment term | Until the end of protection period | Until the end of protection period | Until the end of protection period |
| Premium structure | Yearly adjustable | Yearly adjustable | Yearly adjustable |
| Premium payment frequency | Annual / Monthly | Annual / Monthly | Annual / Monthly |
| Policy currency | HKD | HKD | HKD |
| This table represents a summary of the product features; please refer to the brochure and policy documents for the full Terms and Benefits. | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote |
MAKING A CLAIM IS SIMPLE!
Cigna policyholders can enter claim details on the MyCigna app or online.
Upload photos of any supporting documents.
After the claim has been processed, we will reimburse you directly to your bank account.
TAX DEDUCTION
Premiums you pay for VHIS Certified Plans covering you and your dependants are eligible for tax deduction, based on the Government’s recent update to the Inland Revenue Ordinance. The maximum tax deduction is $8,000 per insured person per year, with no cap on the number of policies or dependants you claim a deduction for.
WHAT IS A DEDUCTIBLE?
We will start paying for the covered medical expenses once the deductible amount has been reached. The deductible will be covered either by you or your other insurance plan(s).
ILLUSTRATIONS FOR CIGNA VHIS SERIES
Standard Plan
Flexi Plan (SMM)
Flexi Plan (Superior)
Vanessa 25
Cigna VHIS Series
Standard Plan
Standard Plan
Recently graduated, Vanessa is excited to be taking up her first proper job. While it’s not a high starting salary, she’s pleased to learn that the job comes with outpatient medical insurance. But recently Vanessa’s best friend had to go into hospital for a small surgery that cost her a lot of money, and Vanessa is concerned that her employer’s medical insurance doesn’t cover scenarios like this. Despite her tight budget, Vanessa feels she would like to supplement her employer’s package with a hospital insurance plan.
How the Standard Plan fits her needs:
- basic hospital cover with government endorsement, clear pre-defined terms and conditions
- tax deduction on premium paid
- affordable prices
- no exclusions added even if her health circumstances change over time
Diagnosed a year later with a cataract in her left eye, Vanessa has to undergo surgery in day care center.
| Benefit item | HK$ |
| Surgeon's fee | 12,000 |
|---|---|
| Operating theatre charges | 3,000 |
| Anaesthetist’s fee | 3,000 |
| Total covered | 18,000 |
Remark:
- No shortfall remains and Vanessa can rest assured with easy recovery without financial strain.
Helena 30
Cigna VHIS Series
Flexi Plan (SMM)
Flexi Plan (SMM)
Helena tied the knot at the age of 30, and she and her husband Eric are hoping to start a family in the next few years. But for Helena, it’s essential that such an important step is backed by solid, reliable protection against health and financial risks. At such an important time of their lives, she and Eric deserve above average medical protection.
The couple are shocked when Helen unexpectedly suffers a mild heart attack at the age of just 34. Her doctors say that an angioplasty is essential, a procedure which would not have been covered by the Standard Plan but which her Flexi Plan (SMM) comfortably accommodates.
| Benefit item (HK$) | Sub total | In excess of item limit |
| Room and board | 2,250 | |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous charges | +14,000 | 50,000* |
| Surgeon's fee | +25,000 | 80,000* |
| Operating theatre charges | +8,750 | |
| Pre- and post-Confinement / Day Case Procedure outpatient care | +1,500 | |
| Supplementary Major Medical Benefit* $(50,000+80,000)x 80% | +104,000 | N/A |
| Total claim payable | =155,500 | N/A |
| Co-insurance borne by Helena out-of-pocket $(50,000+80,000)x 20% | -26,000 | N/A |
| Total premium paid for both policies $(4,204+4,307+4,412+4,520+4,630)x2 | -44,146 | N/A |
| First year Premium Discount Spouse Discount: each 10% off Online Discount: each 15% off $4,204 x 2 x 25% | +2,102 | N/A |
| ax benefit for both policies $(44,146 – 2,102 ) x15% (Assume 15% standard tax rate applies) | +6,307 | N/A |
| Net saving | =93,763 |
*Premium level is subject to change from time to time due to medical inflation.
Iris 40
Cigna VHIS Series
Flexi Plan (Superior)
Flexi Plan (Superior)
Iris works for a major Hong Kong banking group and benefits from the bank’s group cover insurance. She had never looked at signing up for other insurance, assuming that group cover was all anyone might need. However, after witnessing an accident her colleague went through while travelling – with the short hospital stay outside Hong Kong not being covered by their group plan – she changes her mind. Iris signed up for the Flexi Plan (Superior) for both herself and her 10 year-old son.
Deductible HK$25,000 for her own policy | HK$0 for her son’s policy.
Deductible HK$25,000 for her own policy | HK$0 for her son’s policy.
Two years later, when driving with her family on a remote island in Okinawa, Japan, Iris’s rental car slid on gravel and plunged down a bank. Iris suffered quite significant injuries that required a week’s stay in an Okinawan hospital before she could travel home.
| HK$ | |
| Hospitalisation expenses incurred in Japan | 230,000 |
|---|---|
| Post-confinement outpatient expenses in Hong Kong | +3,000 |
| Total medical expense | =233,000 |
| Deductible – covered by group plan | -25,000 |
| Total claim payable (no itemised dollar limit) | =208,000 |
| Total premium paid for both policies $(6,099+6,340+6,617)+$(6,974+6,781+6,587) | -39,398 |
| First year Premium Discount Children Discount: Children 10% off $6,974 x 10% | +697 |
| Tax benefit for both policies $(39,398 – 697) x15% (Assume 15% standard tax rate applies) | +5,805 |
| Total covered | =175,104 |
*Premium level is subject to change from time to time due to medical inflation.
FAQS
VHIS
What makes Certified Plans different from existing products in the market?
There are a few features that make Certified Plans of VHIS Standard Plan and the basic coverage of Flexi Plans different from existing market offerings, including:
- Standard policy terms and conditions, benefit coverage and amount
- No lifetime benefit limit
- Premium transparency
- Guaranteed renewal up to age 100
- Cover for unknown pre-existing conditions, congenital conditions, non-surgical cancer treatment, day-case procedures and advanced diagnostic imaging tests etc.
Do all Certified Plans offered by different insurers share the same features?
All Standard Plans offered by different insurers share the same core features with standard benefit amounts on the basic coverage.
Meanwhile, the coverage and benefit amounts of Flexi Plans are up to insurers' discretion, although they must be at least as comprehensive as what the Standard Plan offers.
Are Certified Plans only available to Hong Kong residents?
No, there is no special residency restriction under VHIS. However, the tax benefit for VHIS policy holders (and their spouses) is only applicable to Hong Kong taxpayers.
Can I claim for medical expenses incurred outside Hong Kong?
Yes, you can. All Standard Plan coverage (except on psychiatric treatment) is worldwide. Flexi Plans must offer at least Standard Plan level coverage on a worldwide basis, while there can be restrictions on the enhanced coverage by region (e.g. Asia only). In other words, no matter if it is a Standard Plan or Flexi Plan you are holding, you can rest assured that any medical expenses incurred outside Hong Kong will be covered at least to the level of the Standard Plan.
Note that the Supplementary major medical benefit of Flexi Plan (SMM) is restricted to Hong Kong, while the "Full compensation" benefits of Flexi Plan (Superior) are restricted to Asia (including Australia and New Zealand). Refer to the brochure for more detailed explanation.
Do Certified Plans cover my pre-existing health conditions?
Certified Plans cover your unknown pre-existing conditions. In first 3 policy years, they are partially covered, while starting in the 4th policy year, they are fully covered. For known pre-existing conditions, the available coverage depends on insurers' underwriting rules. It is important to disclose any known health conditions during your application—as failing to declare could affect coverage.
What if my pre-existing health conditions is congenital?
Certified Plans cover your congenital conditions which have manifested or been diagnosed after the age of 8. In first 3 policy years there is partial coverage, while starting in the 4th policy year it is fully covered.
Do Certified Plans cover Critical Illnesses?
VHIS is a scheme for individual hospitalization insurance products, which reimburse medical expenses incurred on inpatient and outpatient basis. Therefore extra cover on Critical Illness is not guaranteed, depending on Flexi Plans offered by insurers.
How many VHIS plan can I hold?
There is no special limit on the number of policies one can hold under VHIS. However, this is subject to the underwriting rules of each insurance company.
Where can I get more information about VHIS in Hong Kong?
The Food and Health Bureau's VHIS Office maintains a website regarding VHIS, available here. Insurance companies' general conduct is governed by the Insurance Authority, while the Inland Revenue Department is responsible for any claims for tax deduction in connection with VHIS. Details of Cigna's arrangement with regard to the Insurance Authority's levy are available here.
Cigna's Certified Plans
Through what channel can I enroll into a VHIS plan?
For Cigna's Certified Plans, you can make purchase:
on our website
with your Independent Financial Advisor
or through our dedicated hotline at 8100 0471
on our website
with your Independent Financial Advisor
or through our dedicated hotline at 8100 0471
Can I buy VHIS for my family members?
Yes. You can buy online for yourself, your spouse and your children. For other family members (e.g. parents or siblings), please call our hotline (8100 0471) to discuss your options.
Can I apply two VHIS plans for myself? E.g 1 standard plan and 1 Flexi plan
We want to make sure you choose the right Certified Plan, so we don't allow you to buy two similar plans both covering yourself. However, if you already have medical reimbursement cover (whether VHIS or non-VHIS) from another company, you can still apply for one of our Certified Plans.
I have an existing Cigna policy. Can I convert between Cigna's Certified Plans and other Cigna policies?
Yes, you can.
Policy migrations to Cigna's Certified Plans from any other Cigna products, or vice versa, are all regarded as applications for a new policy. That means that underwriting is required, and the coverage and premiums may be affected by any health conditions that may have developed since you started your original cover.
For policy migration among Certified Plans, re-underwriting is waived for benefit downgrade (e.g. from Flexi Plan to Standard Plan or increasing deductible option). In other cases, i.e. where you are applying to increase your coverage, re-underwriting is required.
If you are an existing Cigna policy holder and wish to consider your options with VHIS, please call our hotline on 8100 0471.
Where can I find my policy documents after purchase?
Your policy documents will be available on MyCigna App and MyCigna Portal in 2 working days after your application is approved. Once your policy starts, you will receive a welcome email from us containing the instruction to activate your MyCigna account. If you request for printed copies, your policy documents will be issued and mailed to your registered address in 2 working days.
When will the coverage start upon my enrollment of the plan?
Coverage of your plan starts right after we complete our underwriting assessment of your application, provided the initial premium is paid. If you apply online, we will let you know whether your application is successful immediately or whether it requires additional assessment.
Can I split policy ownership with another person?
No—Cigna's underwriting practice allows one policy holder per policy.
Can I transfer ownership to another person after the policy has already started?
Yes—we allow transfer of policy ownership at policy renewal only. Normally, the owner of a policy must be the insured person or an immediate relative (e.g. the spouse, parent or adult child of the insured person). In general, if the insured person would be your dependent for tax purposes then we will allow you to own the policy.
Online Application
Can I select any settlement currency other than HKD?
For VHIS policies, we only accept premiums in HKD.
What do I need to be able to buy online now?
Before you start your online purchase, please make sure you have below information ready:
your HKID no.
the ID (HKID or otherwise) of any family members you wish to cover your basic contact information
the height, weight, and medical history details of you or any family members you wish to cover your credit card information
your HKID no.
the ID (HKID or otherwise) of any family members you wish to cover your basic contact information
the height, weight, and medical history details of you or any family members you wish to cover your credit card information
How can I pay?
You can pay online with your credit card. We accept VISA and Mastercard. If you wish to pay using a different method, please call our hotline on 8100 0471
How do I know my online application is completed successfully?
You will receive a confirmation email once your application is completed. An enrollment summary will also be available in that email.
Tax deduction
How does the tax deduction work?
The tax deduction is an additional incentive for HK citizens to purchase Certified Plans under VHIS. When you file your tax return, any premiums you or your spouse have paid towards VHIS Certified Plans can be deducted from your total taxable income (subject to a deduction ceiling of HK$8,000 per insured person per year).
If I have more than one VHIS policy, can I deduct all the premiums?
There is no cap on the number of VHIS policies you can claim tax deduction for, however the total annual deductible amount is HK$8,000 per insured person. This means if you have VHIS policies covering different dependants, you have a separate HK$8,000 quota per dependant, with no cap on the number of dependants insured.
When can I start including my premiums in my tax return?
Premiums paid into VHIS plans from 1 April 2019 will count towards tax deduction, so the first tax year affected will be the one ending 31 March 2020.
Soon after the end of each tax year following VHIS launch, we will provide you with a record of all eligible premiums paid (along with any premium refunds made) during that tax year. You can use this as reference when filing your tax return. Note that you can only claim tax deduction on VHIS premiums paid during the applicable tax year.
PRODUCT DETAILS
Buy online for an exclusive offer of 15% off your first-year premium
Additional 10% discount available for spouse or kids